Are you thinking of investing in Worcester Bosch controls for your new boiler?
A new Worcester Bosch boiler and controls go hand-in-hand, and together with a magnetic central heating filter, could get you an extended guarantee that covers everything for up to 10 years!
So, with that incentive, I often get asked which controls are the best, and how to work out which ones are actually going to be the right choice for your home.
The good news is, when it comes to controls, Worcester Bosch gives you a lot of options – the bad news is, that can often be a bit confusing, especially if you don’t know what you need.
Below, I’m going to try and clear this up by providing you with an overview of all the Worcester Bosch controls on offer, and the key features of each one.
What are your options?
The four different types of Worcester Bosch controls currently on offer are:
- Mechanical controls
- Digital controls
- Intelligent contols
- Internet connected
Below, I’m going to talk about each of the models available under the four categories mentioned above, so you can get a better idea of what each has to offer.
Mechanical controls
The easiest and most traditional of boiler controls, these help you set your boiler’s time and adjust the times when it is due to come on.
When it comes to mechanical controls, you have two main options:
The MT10 mechanical timer
- Worcester Bosch’s simplest device for setting your heating start and stop times
- A mechanical dial display
- Usually fitted into the boiler facia or on the wall close to the boiler.
The MT10RF mechanical timer
- A simple device for setting heating start and stop times
- Use the control on the wall to set your heating, without having to access your boiler
- A mechanical clock display
- The RF control is remote frequency. This means that a sender/receiver unit it is plugged into the facia of the boiler or on the wall close to the boiler, then you can fit the timer unit in another location which receives a signal by remote frequency telling the boiler to come on and off. Great if the boiler is fitted in the attic or garage. Also there’s no unsightly cables.
Digital controls
Moving onto the digital controls, these can allow you to set different time zones for your heating to come on and off throughout the day – they are usually wireless, or can be fitted to a wall.
Your options for Worcester Bosch digital controls are:
The Greenstar Comfort digital programmer
- Programmer that can be fitted in the facia of the boiler or can be fitted on the wall close to the boiler.
- A clear digital display
- Simple to navigate menu
- Settings to control your heating and hot water 7 days per week
- A heating programme visualisation bar
The Greenstar Comfort I
- Programmer which can be fitted in the facia of the boiler or can be fitted on the wall close to the boiler and wireless room thermostat which can be fitted in a suitable location with no visible cables or redecoration required.
- A clear digital display and navigation menu
- Easy, quick installation – no wiring needed
- Very reliable radio frequency signal
The Greenstar Comfort II programmable room thermostat and RF receiver
- Plug in sender, receiver unit which can be fitted in the facia of the boiler or can be fitted on the wall close to the boiler and wireless programmable room thermostat which can be fitted in a suitable location with no visible cables or redecoration.
- A clear digital display and navigation menu
- Up to 6 different heating time zone options per day
- Programme your heating without having to access the boiler
- Check your boiler’s diagnostic codes from the thermostat
Intelligent controls
Intelligent controls were developed to help you achieve a much higher efficiency from your boiler, and can include weather and load compensation features.
Let’s take a look at your two main Worcester Bosch options:
Greenstar Sense I Intelligent room thermostat
- Load compensation and responsiveness for improved energy efficiency
- Large, bright display, with easily adjustable dial
- Increases your boiler’s performance to suit your home’s needs
Greenstar Sense II Weather Compensation control
- Interacts intelligently with your boiler for energy efficiency
- Allows for weather compensation via a wired outdoor sensor
- Compatible with solar thermal systems
- Reminds you when a service is due
- Can help you achieve an A+ ErP system efficiency (for Greenstar i, Si or CDi Compact boilers)
Internet connected
Finally, we’re truly into the digital age with the latest, internet connected controls which are so simple to use, and allow you to control your home’s heating from anywhere in the world – as long as you have an internet connection!
Here’s Worcester Bosch’s solution:
Wave smart control
- Intuitive, user-friendly dashboard that connects to your boiler via WiFi
- Can be operated using a smartphone or tablet via the app
- Weather and load compensation
- Detailed heating and hot water charts so you can see where potential savings can be made
- Helps to achieve an A+ ErP efficiency rating when used with a Greenstar combi boiler
- Holiday mode
- Full data privacy
- Now you can control multiple Wave controls from 1 app, ideal for landlords and letting agents who have multiple properties.
Conclusion
I hope this overview has given you a better idea of the various different types and models of Worcester Bosch controls out there – cost will depend on the installer and the type of boiler you buy. However, I do recommend you buy Worcester Bosch controls to take advantage of the extended guarantees!
Which Worcester Bosch energy efficient controls are right for you? Have you owned any of these before? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
